Supervisors Hear Tax Protests, Change Two Valuations

Nine property tax protests were heard on Tuesday at the Antelope County Supervisors meeting but only two were changed. 

The supervisors voted in all nine cases to approve the recommendation of Assessor Kelly Mueller. Many of the parcels protested were acreages that had been increased 20 percent due to an area market value increase. 

Another variable, according to Mueller, that altered tax values of land was a change in the land's use. In one instance, land had previously been used for dry farmland and let go to grass. Therefore the value of property was lowered. 

Mueller also spoke to the board Tuesday about the use of GIS, or geographical information system. This system costs $25,000 every 6 years and is used to assess rural improvements. 

A series of photographs are taken of every rural farm site in the county through the use of airplanes. These photographs can show new roofs, buildings, siding and even central air. This helps to determine the value of property without having a physical inspection. 

Mueller stated that she had over a thousand upcoming rural improvements that would benefit from the use of this system and it would eliminate a need for another employee.

Supervisors also discussed an advertisement for the road superintendent position they are currently offering. They plan to advertise the job for two weeks in the Omaha World Herald, The Grand Island Independent and the Norfolk Daily News. The application will close on August 19 and interviews will be held in September. The motion was made to approve the ad by Charlie Henery and was seconded by Neil Williby.

The county is currently working on a policy regarding reimbursement of county employees. There have been issues with individuals were are employed by the county that buy office supplies or other items for the county and pay taxes on those items, and they are then reimbursed the whole amount. 

Antelope County is tax exempt, therefore they should not pay tax on any item that is purchased for county use. This action will lay a policy of how employees are to purchase county items using tax exempt forms or forfeit the taxes.

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